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From hits on the fields as a professional athlete, to delivering music hits on his debut “Move On” album (#4 on the Top Ten Reggae Albums of 2015 on German Riddim Magazine), son of legendary Bankie Banks, Anguilla born soulful reggae blues rock artist Omari Banks has garnered many accolades and worldwide recognition. From prestigious Forbes magazine to Huffington post, BET to NY Times, to a recent award nomination by New York’s major Caribbean diaspora radio station Irie Jam, Omari’s charm, musical delivery, versatile lyrics ranging from consciousness to sensuality and memorable performances have all been recognized and praised internationally.

“At six foot five, dark and handsome, with long dreadlocks and a cool Caribbean style, you can’t help but be drawn to Omari Banks, His music is dynamic and has many influences.” – Huffington Post

Last year has seen the star embark on a successful European tour alongside Grammy winning Morgan Heritage, perform at major U.S festival South By SouthWest, and release various singles produced by notable producers, pairing with breathtaking visuals filmed between the Caribbean and Italy. Both the singles and videos have been on constant rotation, while building the anticipated follow up album.

“... Omari Banks. With his dashing good looks, rockstar stage presence and impressive #singer #songwriter skills, the younger Banks is well poised to carry on his father’s legacy and take Anguillan reggae international.” – Forbes

To the delight of his fans, Omari Banks recently announced that his next album titled “Sunlight” will be release Spring 2017. In a recent release to the media, Omari explained “This album is positively charged and fused with melody and vibe which i hope will inspire, enlighten and encourage the awakening of love throughout the world”. The crooner is presently hard at work in Jamaica putting the finishing touches on “Sunlight”.

The latter’s album premiere will be revealed and celebrated with a live concert April, 7th, 2017 at Notting Hills Arts Club in London, UK. Hosted by famed BBC host Robbo Ranx, the event will see Omari perform such music as “Naturally” and “System Set”, both featured on “Sunlight” album.

“Omari Banks, who commanded the stage with a Jimi Hendrix-reminiscent presence. Rocking a multicolored “Rolling Stones” cut-off tee, a bandana, leather pants and his signature dreads, Omari showed, that “He did not come to play — He came to slay.” – BET

Omari’s album release and concert are part of his upcoming Spring European promo tour visiting the Netherlands, UK, Germany with more countries to be announced, where he looks forward to reconnect with fans, and with the hopes of making new ones. “ Europe is a very special place for me, the love and support makes it feel like a second home. So I see it as my duty to give nothing but the best of me..”

Summer 2017 will see Omari Banks shining some “Sunlight” to the U.S.A.

The quest for wisdom knowledge and overstanding is not about having all the answers. The real major key—shout to DJ Khaled—is asking the right questions. The Crown Prince of Reggae, Dennis Emmanuel Brown, once sang a song that asked “Do you know what it means to have a revolution?” Elsewhere D. Brown observed “Them ah fight them mothers, them ah kill them brothers, some ah fight them sister, some a fight them father,” then he asked a musical question that was more like a challenge: “Who they gonna fight when the right fight comes?” Although Dennis passed away without receiving a good answer, there were other seekers who picked up his line of questioning. On Tarrus Riley’s seminal 2006 album Parables Singy Singy sang a song called “System Set” (subtitled “Willie Lynch Syndrome” after a notorious speech attributed to a West Indian slave master who advised that the best way to control unruly slaves was to, in other words, to divide and rule.) “In the race for a dollar, friends turn sour—even Mama ‘gainst Dada,” Riley’s song observed. “And I heard that gunshot ah shower over rice and flour—This we can’t allow yah. It makes no sense to fight for food. I’d rather wait for harvest.” And then he completes the thought with a powerful question: “Tell me who and what it profits?” (The modern day Willie Lynches of course, people like Donald Trump.) Today Boomshots proudly premieres the music video for Omari Banks’ song of the same name. But make no mistake, the 2016 version of “System Set” is not a cover. The melody and lyrics are completely new, although the fearless rebel spirit remains the same. This song is more like a continuation of an ongoing search for wisdom, knowledge, and overstanding—making use of word, sound, and power to ask a burning question, one that remains unanswered from that time till this time: “Do you know what you’re fighting for?” Video After The Jump…

“As a lover of history and a enthusiast of world matters I’ve always found it very interesting to listen to people’s view on topics which have shaped the world we live in,” says Omari, who traveled to both Jamaica and Italy to film the video. “‘System Set’ is a song which encourages the listener to dig within their beliefs, present documented facts and ask questions which I find compelling and critical to the existence of all people living in unity.”

“Do you know what you’re fighting for” Run that…

“Quite frankly I’m speaking as a realist.”

Produced by Omari himself, the Jamaica portion of the “System Set” video was shot by Kerrin “Kerro” McLean

At six foot five, dark and handsome, with long dreadlocks and a cool Caribbean style, you can’t help but be drawn to Omari Banks. I meet up with Omari at Café Mediterraneo at Cuisinart Golf Resort & Spa in Anguilla, which is conveniently located next door to the famous Dune Preserve that just finished hosting its 26th annual Moonsplash festival. As we head to our table, we can’t walk but two feet without Omari exchanging warm greetings with another passerby, almost like an unofficial ambassador of Anguilla. We eventually sit down at a table in the back of the restaurant and, after ordering identical chopped salads with seared tuna, launch right into chatting about his life.

I ask about his shirt which says ‘get stoned naturally’. It turns out that he doesn’t smoke, never has, and drinks minimally. “I’ve always been very structured in things that I’ve done” he says, “and in sports I liked to be in control. I take that same kind of mentality towards my music.”

As we talk, it becomes clear that his passion for life is undeniable. And, with that, there is an intensity and drive to succeed. First, he harnessed that energy at a young age to learn cricket. By age 12, he was traveling with a team of 17 year olds who took him under their wing. He was, as he put it, “obsessed with cricket – the same way I am with my music now,” and persevered to become the first Anguillan to play Test Cricket. By the age of 27 years old, he had played cricket professionally, all over the Caribbean and in England, and had become jaded with the politics of the industry and disappointed when he wasn’t selected for certain teams. As frustration set in, he turned to what had always come naturally, music.

“When I decided to do music, I had the same drive for it as I did for cricket” he says. “Because music was such a part of me from two or three years old, I would dare to say I have even a stronger talent for music.” Indeed, Omari had been surrounded by music his entire life (his father is legendary reggae singer Bankie Banx), and he would travel with his dad abroad, singing onstage with his dad at the young age of five years old. Music was also a constant source of enjoyment and relaxation, and when he was touring with cricket, he would carry his guitar with him and write songs. He had a confidence from sports of “if I put my mind to something and dedicate my time and practice it, something can be achieved.”

Once he set his mind to starting a music career, there was no turning back. His laser focus on refining his voice, working on his songwriting, and improving his instrument playing skills (he plays the base, guitar and drums) culminated in his debut album Move On, aptly titled to express his sentiments of moving on from his cricket career. The album is full of moving tracks, including a collaboration with Grammy-winning artist Peetah Morgan on the song No Point To Prove, the songSomaya dedicated to his sweet 4 year old daughter, and the powerful title trackMove On. His music is dynamic and has many influences. “Folk music resonates with me because I’m a storyteller, blues music because it touches the soul, and jazz music for its complexity. My music is a fusion of all of them, with the base being reggae music.”

Although he’s frequently traveling for work (he most recently performed in the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas), he is now back in Anguilla after just performing at Moonsplash, where he played both current hits and new songs. A memorable moment of the night included a duet with his father Bankie where they gave a soulful tribute to Prince with a beautiful rendition of the song Purple Rain. I spoke to Bankie, and he couldn’t be more proud of his son. “He’s a great singer-songwriter,” says Bankie, “and he’s working very hard and is very brave.”

The feeling is mutual. Omari has great respect for his father and, although they both have strong personalities and sometimes clash, he is close with his father and views him as a role model, as he does his mother, who instilled in him the values of perseverance and hard work and encouraged him to read motivational self-help books as he was growing up. “I have to give my mom, who was a big disciplinarian, a lot of credit for molding me into who I am. I’m not the kind of person to be complacent.”

Those values have helped him on his musical journey as Omari acknowledges that the road hasn’t always been easy. “It’s a lot of hard work. You have to constantly practice to be able to express yourself onstage. And you have to have a plan and work towards it. My overall outlook is that you take each day for what it is and grow piece by piece. There are ten million ways to do the same thing; I have to feel comfortable that, as Frank Sinatra says, ‘I did it my way’.”

As far as Omari’s advice for future artists, “Work hard and be independent by learning to play instruments because it opens up so many doors. That way, you can make money by playing without relying on others. Read. Have discipline. Have fun because it’s easy to forget that the emotional connection to the music needs to be real in order to connect with people. When you are having fun, people will pick up on that vibe.”

He is currently working on his next album (which is expected to drop later this year) and just released a new single, System Set. I ask him what we can expect to hear on the upcoming album. “I have a better idea of what I want my music to sound like now. This new album will be more refined in terms of my vocal ability. I will collaborate with other producers, and it will be marketed even better as I have more contacts to make things happen. People recognize me better for my music now; I’ve gotten over that hump of them recognizing me for my cricketer status.”

Fresh off a performance at Anguilla’s annual Moonsplash concert last week, Anguillan cricketer-turned-singer and songwriter Omari Banks returns with “System Set,” a new single featuring charged up political commentary and a cameo from Jamaica’s Duane Stephenson. Blending reggae riddims with an almost Santana-like rock guitar lead, Banks challenges the listener to think long and hard on their position within the “the system,” illuminating the Caribbean’s precarious place in the world economy.

“IMF, you’re either in it or dem squash you like a pumpkin,” Banks sings. “We understand that this has always been bad business. But the only thing we selling is blue water and we beaches. What a situation we are now confronting.”

“System Set,” from an upcoming LP Banks will be releasing later this year, sees Banks, known for more personal material like “Unafraid” and “More Than Friends” taking a more provocative lyrical stance. It was recorded in Jamaica at Tuff Gong Studios, with musicians form Morgan Heritage and producer Andre Keys.

“As a lover of history and am enthusiast of world matters, I’ve always found it interesting to listen to people’s views on topics which have shaped the world we live in,” Banks says. “‘System Set’ is a song which encourages the listener to dig within their beliefs, present documented facts and ask questions, which I find critical to the existence of all people living in unity.”

Sun, sand and sea — while this is usually the quintessential jargon attached to the carefree essence of several Caribbean islands, the small isle of Anguilla boasts something much richer, daring to add one more element to the pot: music. The country’s three-dayMoonsplash reggae festival, considerably the oldest of its kind in the Caribbean, almost seamlessly goes hand-in-hand with its “too cool for school” vibe. This vibration, unlike more widely-known music festivals, boasts an authenticity that can’t be bought.

Often considered the “best full moon party in the Western hemisphere” by locals and visitors alike, Moonsplash does away with the pretentious fringe frocks, faux suede chaps, bandana head bands, and other makeshift fashion “staples” attendees of other mainstream festivals exclusively attend for. Instead, the music is made the star of the show, with widely traveled — and heavy pocketed — “Moonsplashers” being the first to acknowledge such.

Extending along the vibes of Coachella, South by Southwest and the like, another element in which Moonsplash differs in is its size. Intentionally, the attendance is left at a controlled and deliberately concentrated number, around 500 at max, forcing attendees to mix, mingle and jam without the hustle and bustle of overpopulation.

If that doesn’t sound too good to be true, consider this: The entire course of the event takes place on one of the Caribbean’s cleanest and most picturesque beaches, adding to the element of “chill” that can’t be beat. The stage is built in famed beach bar The Dune, which seems like a makeshift poop deck resembling something straight out of Robinson Crusoe, but with just enough character to be considered selfie-worthy by the millennials and authentically reminiscent for the older crowd.

In past years, the festival has attracted major fanfare for its unmatched lineup of Caribbean and International talent ranging from the likes of Tarrus Riley and Buju Banton to John Mayer andNas. The organic “vibey” atmosphere even prompted Justin Bieber, who was on the island one year strictly for leisurely reasons, to hop on stage and slay the guitar for a few moments.

This year, however, while the lineup was not as noteworthy as years prior, the richness of the showcase was not sacrificed. With local talents like the Banx family — consisting of the festival’s founder and local reggae star Bankie Banx, his son, former famed West Indies cricketer-turned-contemporary reggae favorite Omari Banks — Tony Rebel, British Dependency, Mighty Mystic, Connis, and several others, the show remained an exclusive access to reggae perfection.

The show opened with Natalie Richardson, an up-and-coming local act who gave a performance of covers starting off with a reggae spin onAdele’s smash “Hello,” followed by the reggae classics “Is This Love?” by Bob Marley and the Sister Nancy favorite “Bam Bam.” Not letting her set end on someone else’s note, Natalie closed things out with a performance of her new single “Dumb” — think Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable” but instead of “you must not know ‘bout me,” she’s questioning her deranged ex’s intelligence. You know how it is.

Following Natalie was the heir to the Moonsplash throne, Omari Banks, who commanded the stage with a Jimi Hendrix-reminiscent presence. Rocking a multicolored “Rolling Stones” cut-off tee, a bandana, leather pants and his signature dreads, Omari showed, in the revered words of Big Freedia, “He did not come to play — He came to slay.” After adding his reggae-rocker spin to a series of Bob Marley classics, himself, Omari welcomed his dad to the stage for a duet of sorts, performing his four-year-old hit “O Africa.”

Following the collaboration, it was time for Omari to go solo, breaking out into his original cut “No Point to Prove” that seemed to be a bonafide hit, judging from the familiar faces and lips of the crowd. It wasn’t until he ventured into his newest single “System Set” that the crowd let out a collective gasp. The nearly acoustic cut boasts an air of authentic grit with cutting lyrics like, “Know what you’re fighting for. You think you’ll even the score… Are you willing to start back from zero.” The perfect way to end a pretty flawless set.

The talents showcased at Moonsplash left attendees feeling like they hopped into a time machine, watching the reincarnations of first Hendrix and now Marley with the effortless swag of Mighty Mystic. As he began his set though, some would say he had a bit of a setback as the rain began to pour on the open stage, but in true professional fashion, he used it to his advantage, showing that rain don’t stop the ‘fest.

Adding to the drama of the elements, Mystic unleashed his 20-inch dreads, coupling their freeform movement with his voice that seemed to constitute the perfect blend of soft vibrato and that signature reggae edge that only a handful of artists boast. Performing his own cuts like “Revolution” and “Cali Green,” Mystic had patrons coming out of shelter, bolting to the front of the stage to see him up close and personal, and the treat they were served far surpassed the aftermath of a drizzle.

The show continued the next day with talent recognized both Caribbean-wide and internationally. Jamaican reggae DJ Tony Rebel took the stage before welcoming Bankie Banx, who randomly brought a slew of talent to the stage, including Connis who did a live rendition of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song.”

Following this empowering moment was local band and captivating performers British Dependency. The two lead vocalists of the group, Ishmael Levi and Joyah delivered a positively polarizing performance and visual aesthetic that made it difficult to turn away. With Ishmael’s apparently signature sulk and Joyah’s leather booty shorts paired with eight inch platform booties and animatedly staccato movements, their set was much more than a musical masterpiece.

Bringing the night to a new high, however, was Omari and his father, Bankie, rejoining several of the acts on stage to perform an impromptu tribute to Prince. The song of choice: “Purple Rain.” With lavender strobe lights, and a fog machine in tow, the stage looked like something out of a movie, but while the set was embellished in the Purple One’s memory, the performers kept it simple and holistic in their performance, leaving it all about the music.

From seasoned talent to fresh faces, Moonsplash was the stomping grounds for both reggae’s elite and next in class. With the perfect backdrop of the Anguillian beaches, the event turned out to be not an attraction for touristic entertainment, but rather the cultured unwinding for a traveler’s mind. After all, as it’s said in the paradisiacal isle, “Anguilla is not for the tourist; it’s for the traveler.”